Deer Flat Campsite
Milford Rd - Fiordland National Park
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Deer Flat Campsite
This is a standard campsite in northern Fiordland. Camp beside the Eglinton River in a grassy area surrounded by small pockets of beech forest. Fly fish in the river.
62km along the Milford Road from Te Anau. A huge camping area with massive open grassy areas or private bit of beech forest to call your own for the night. The campsite is right next to the Eglinton River and there is a good swimming hole next to the little hill in the middle of the campsite. There are picnic tables, but fires are prohibited. Easy access for large vehicles, although there has been some issues with flooding which may restrict access to some sites and facilities.
Notices
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Predator control for Eglinton Valley
A predator control operation using toxic bait containing 1080 was completed on 11 February 2024.
Eglinton Valley is open to the public with warning signs in place at key entrances.
There may be toxic carcasses and bait (green coloured pellets) in the area. It’s not safe to hunt for food or have your dog in this area for up to 8 months. Dogs are not allowed at any time. Warning signs and this web alert will be removed when the area is safe again.
This operation is part of DOC's National Predator Control Programme to protect native species.
First published on 18 December 2023. Last reviewed on 6 November 2024.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Deer Flat Campsite is categorised as a DOC Standard Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing. Prices vary for some campsites and may include seasonal pricing. Visit the DOC website for exact pricing.
DOC Standard Campsite
Standard campsites have a more limited range of facilities and services than Serviced campsites. These campsites have toilets, a water supply that could be treated or untreated tap water, or from a stream or lake, and vehicle or boat access. Bring your own soap for washing hands. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Wood BBQs and fireplaces, cold showers, picnic tables, a cooking shelter and rubbish bins may be provided; this will vary from site to site.
| Feature | Value | Value |
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| Unpowered Site | Adult | $10.00 to $15.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $5.00 to $7.50 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC FiordlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau |
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Operating Season And Hours |
This campsite cannot be booked, sites are on a first come basis. |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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4.0/5
Great place with stunning view but poor facilities...
No shower except the river (without soap of course!), long drop toilets without water and soap.
Plenty spots, empty when we came.
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4.0/5
The views from this site both during the day and at night are spectacular.
Surrounded by mountains in a wide open valley with a river running alongside. It does come at the inconvenience of long drop toilets and $15 per person is somewhat pricey as there is no water source other than the river. Bring something for the sandfly’s too. But I’d still 100% stay again because of the views of the stars at night
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5.0/5
amazing camping, our favourite on the milford road.
clean and well maintained drop toilets. amazing views for a valley. stunning in the foggy mornings, with a sun on mountain peaks. 15 nzd pp
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5.0/5
Unreal spot!
About an hour from Milford Sound. We had a great spot tucked in the forest right beside a stream (drive in and take the road to the left - spot is on the first corner). A few sandflies but nothing out of control. The toilets absolutely reeked but better than nothing!
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4.5/5
Beautiful spot to camp by the river.
Good half way point between Te Anau and Milford Sounds. Amazing views, clear water and a great swimming hole. Long drop toilets were clean. Only down side was the cost for very basic facilities but one of the kids fav spots on our trip. Forest area was fun to play in as was jumping in the river!
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4.5/5
Lovely outlook and decent drop toilets.
Lots of sites to choose from if you have four-wheel drive. It was wet when we were there so some of the road was a bit boggy but no problem for 4WD. Choice of sites on flat near the river or under trees. Can get cold at night if camping and you can see the snow on the mountains even in mid Summer. Coffee cart around the corner at Mirror Lakes was a nice surprise.
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2.5/5
Beautiful and quiet spot with several no flush toilets, but we agree with the other reviews: 15 dollars per person is an unfair price.
There are no real facilities there to warrant charging that much. Most other campsites on this route are also provided by the DOC and costs the same, so unfortunately there is no other choice. However, if price isn’t an issue for you, this spot in very pretty and peaceful.
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5.0/5
Beautiful setting by a river.
Lots of secluded spots to camp. Longdrop loos were ok. Basic but worth a trip
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4.0/5
Beautiful place with a sunning view.
But no flush toilets or a kitchen area. A bit too expensive and soooooo many sandlies!
But still quiet and calm.
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2.0/5
Gorgeous nature, but an absolute ripoff from DOC.
Barely one working dry toilet, and ~$35 for a 2 ppl campervan is what DOC asks. Shameful robbery, but still probably the nicest robbery around :(.
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3.5/5
Nicely in between Te Anau and Milford Sound which is why we stayed here.
Lots of options along the road all seem very basic. Toilet was not very clean. Disappointing to be honest
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4.5/5
Gorgeous spot!
About 1 hour from Te Anau & 1:10 from Milford Sounds (in a campervan). Right on the right and under the mountains. Long drop in pretty good condition & well maintain.
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4.0/5
Great place with stunning view but poor facilities...
No shower except the river (without soap of course!), long drop toilets without water and soap.
Plenty spots, empty when we came.
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4.0/5
The views from this site both during the day and at night are spectacular.
Surrounded by mountains in a wide open valley with a river running alongside. It does come at the inconvenience of long drop toilets and $15 per person is somewhat pricey as there is no water source other than the river. Bring something for the sandfly’s too. But I’d still 100% stay again because of the views of the stars at night
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5.0/5
amazing camping, our favourite on the milford road.
clean and well maintained drop toilets. amazing views for a valley. stunning in the foggy mornings, with a sun on mountain peaks. 15 nzd pp
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5.0/5
Unreal spot!
About an hour from Milford Sound. We had a great spot tucked in the forest right beside a stream (drive in and take the road to the left - spot is on the first corner). A few sandflies but nothing out of control. The toilets absolutely reeked but better than nothing!
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4.5/5
Beautiful spot to camp by the river.
Good half way point between Te Anau and Milford Sounds. Amazing views, clear water and a great swimming hole. Long drop toilets were clean. Only down side was the cost for very basic facilities but one of the kids fav spots on our trip. Forest area was fun to play in as was jumping in the river!
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4.5/5
Lovely outlook and decent drop toilets.
Lots of sites to choose from if you have four-wheel drive. It was wet when we were there so some of the road was a bit boggy but no problem for 4WD. Choice of sites on flat near the river or under trees. Can get cold at night if camping and you can see the snow on the mountains even in mid Summer. Coffee cart around the corner at Mirror Lakes was a nice surprise.
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2.5/5
Beautiful and quiet spot with several no flush toilets, but we agree with the other reviews: 15 dollars per person is an unfair price.
There are no real facilities there to warrant charging that much. Most other campsites on this route are also provided by the DOC and costs the same, so unfortunately there is no other choice. However, if price isn’t an issue for you, this spot in very pretty and peaceful.
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5.0/5
Beautiful setting by a river.
Lots of secluded spots to camp. Longdrop loos were ok. Basic but worth a trip
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4.0/5
Beautiful place with a sunning view.
But no flush toilets or a kitchen area. A bit too expensive and soooooo many sandlies!
But still quiet and calm.
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2.0/5
Gorgeous nature, but an absolute ripoff from DOC.
Barely one working dry toilet, and ~$35 for a 2 ppl campervan is what DOC asks. Shameful robbery, but still probably the nicest robbery around :(.
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2.5/5
The spot is really beautiful and quiet.
it's flat and there is enough spaces. But 15$ per person to have only toilet, it's too expensive :(
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3.5/5
Nicely in between Te Anau and Milford Sound which is why we stayed here.
Lots of options along the road all seem very basic. Toilet was not very clean. Disappointing to be honest
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4.5/5
Gorgeous spot!
About 1 hour from Te Anau & 1:10 from Milford Sounds (in a campervan). Right on the right and under the mountains. Long drop in pretty good condition & well maintain.
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5.0/5
Amazing spot under the trees next to the river.
Came in Winter so not a soul around. Surrounded by mossy hills, trees, snow capped mountains and rushing river. Even found a geocache right near the site.
Pit toilets a little scary but useable.
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4.5/5
You're spoilt for choice along this road for DOC campsites, so after driving into a couple of potential sites, we settled on Deer Flat.
There's lots of good camp sites under the trees but we chose a spot out in the open next to the river.
The place was near deserted even though it was early January.
The sites are flat and the grass is short.
Views are awesome! We had a gentle breeze so sandflies weren't a problem
Toilets are long drop but were clean, didn't smell and had decent toilet paper.
Really really pleased with this site.
The bonus in the morning was the short drive to the Mirror Lakes where there was a coffee cart that had eftpos!
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3.5/5
Nice place for a stopover to Milford Sound.
Plenty of space and lovely view of the mountains
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4.0/5
Beautiful views!
Great stop on way to Milford Sound. Only 1 hour drive away. Lots of space. Lovely river surrounded by mountain views. We camped in the trees for shade but river flats had best views. Drop toilets only okay
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5.0/5
Very nice view at the surrounding mountains.
The sunset and the changing colours are great. All spots are flat and the river is a wonderful but refreshing bath.
Drop toilet was OK but the sandflies are terrible if the wind has gone.
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4.0/5
Pretty view of mountains and river very close, can't park alongside river though.
Quite busy with lots of spots. Drop toilets were adequate. Few sandflies around.
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4.0/5
Beautiful views of the mountains and right on a river.
Lots of spots. Two drop toilets but no water. Sandflies were rather pesky, but to be expected.
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5.0/5
Amazing views and plenty of space with a great access to a breathtakingly clear and beautiful river.
Clean toilets, unfortunately lots of sandflies.
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1.5/5
Location was very nice, but the price was $13 per person, too much if there is no kitchen, shower, toilet......
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1.0/5
The only good thing about this campsite was the river and trees surrounding.
We payed $13 each for nothing more than a filthy drop toilet which neither of us would use because it was so dirty. A total robbery staying at any of the DOC campsites from Te Anau to Milford Sound
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5.0/5
A great campsite sheltered beside a creek.
Drop toilet only but clean for this type of facility. Approx 1hour 15 minute drive to Milford Sound whilst your looking at the views.
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4.0/5
If you come with a tent, get there early.
Three nice covered places under the trees. There is a table and benches too. Wild flowers and river are beautiful. There is more space for camper vans. We went to the earliest Milford cruise from there.
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3.0/5
Large camping area beside Eglinton River (more like a pretty creek), and adjacent to the Lake Gunn walk.
Many sites to choose from, some under tree cover. Accommodates large vehicles. Drop toilets (as with all DOC camps in this area). $13pp.
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3.5/5
This DOC campsite is the most expensive we stayed at.
$13 per person with the only facility being a drop toilet which you don't use if you have a self contained campervan with a toilet. So what are you paying for compared to the others which are generally $6 per person? Probably the view... it is a big campsite compared to the others we checked out along the way. The creek and mountains are very pretty and mysterious. No service out there and very peaceful. Glad we chose this site for the serenity.
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5.0/5
Really, really beautiful and good access to Milford Sound and walks.
$6 per night it's not that expensive. Enjoy.
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5.0/5
DOC camp ground, paid $18 for 2 adults and 2 kids, we stayed at the end of the road and the kids loved it, they were able to explore the creek and surrounds, very peaceful with creek running right
beside. Loved this natural site. Suggestion - the long drop toilet needs a solar light for those visits in the dark or make sure you have a torch.
Takes about 1 1/2 hours to Milford Sound in the campervan the next morning, due to some road works and stopping at the tunnel. Take some spray for the sandflies.
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4.5/5
This place is the essence of campervanning in New Zealand.
Million dollar views for $6/person, and no competition in September for the best spot in the ground. The only reason I don't give it 10/10 is that I was greeted by heaps of sand flies, the worst mobs of them anywhere on my trip. Still, I'd stop here again in a heartbeat-- the views are unbeatable!
